Any thoughts? Personally I quite liked This, I know the socialist labour party is hardly the best for my entrepeneurial ideas, but that really spoke to me especially "European union membership has led to poverty and unemployment which in turn has bread racism and xenophobia" So who will you be voting for?

28-05-2009, 03:51 PM

PhoenixFire

I can't vote for obvious reasons, but I'd probably go Greens.

28-05-2009, 03:57 PM

cover drive man

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixFire

I can't vote for obvious reasons, but I'd probably go Greens.

Hmm me neither, have made it my mission though to get my parents to vote socialist labour :laugh:.

28-05-2009, 04:32 PM

Neil Pickup

Quote:

Originally Posted by cover drive man

European union membership has led to poverty and unemployment which in turn has bread racism and xenophobia

NFI who I'll vote for or even if I will bother; but this is crap. Poverty arguably breeds discrimination but EU membership is no more a cause than the birth of David Beckham.

28-05-2009, 05:13 PM

superkingdave

Is a terrible time to have the European elections, 90% of the people who vote are not gonna vote on anything to do with Europe but on their various view on this whole expenses saga.

Not sure who i'll vote for, will do some research nearer the time

28-05-2009, 05:18 PM

Jungle Jumbo

My first chance to vote, and yeah, could be an absolute mess because of the expenses scam. The BNP look like they could win a seat in the North West and UKIP are expected to go well.

As has just been pointed out on Question Time, there isn't enough coverage of European politics in the press. We get stories about straight bananas and MEPs' expenses, but nothing of the actual legislation - even in the Guardian I can recall reading very little over the last year. How are we ever going to make an objective decision about Europe without any reasonably objective and constructive coverage?

28-05-2009, 05:20 PM

PhoenixFire

Yeah I could see the BNP doing very well out of this, which is pretty worrying considering they are a bunch of nutters led by the biggest nutter going.

28-05-2009, 05:21 PM

Jungle Jumbo

Interesting what the expenses scandal will do to turnout as well, IIRC it was 35% in the last European elections.

Oh and it's also local elections on the same day.

28-05-2009, 05:26 PM

superkingdave

I'm on the mailing list for euobserver.com which is pretty decent for coverage, admit i don't read it a lot unless something piques my interest though

28-05-2009, 05:29 PM

superkingdave

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jungle Jumbo

Interesting what the expenses scandal will do to turnout as well, IIRC it was 35% in the last European elections.

Oh and it's also local elections on the same day.

Must only be in certain areas, its only European elections here (Local elections were last year here)

28-05-2009, 05:42 PM

Jungle Jumbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by superkingdave

Must only be in certain areas, its only European elections here (Local elections were last year here)

Yeah, I don't think there are as many councils up for election as last year.

28-05-2009, 06:48 PM

cpr

Heh, not actually registered to vote anywhere at the moment, must send the form back (my fault for moving house into a different constituency).

Wouldnt vote in the EU elections on principle. Biggest waste of money ever. Send some 'MEP's' to sit in Brussels and legislate on stuff that countries dont have to follow if they dont want to. B******ks to that.

Not opposed to the EU as a trade/security body, but venimously against it having a say on a scale such as this.

29-05-2009, 02:54 AM

Jungle Jumbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpr

Wouldnt vote in the EU elections on principle. Biggest waste of money ever. Send some 'MEP's' to sit in Brussels and legislate on stuff that countries dont have to follow if they dont want to. B******ks to that.

Not opposed to the EU as a trade/security body, but venimously against it having a say on a scale such as this.

Um, wouldn't that give you more reason to vote? Or at least spoil your ballot.

29-05-2009, 03:50 AM

Goughy

The EU is a fat, bloated and broken institution with ideals that contradict each other.

For generations people have battled (figuratively and literally) for the right to self-determination and sovereignty and membership of the EU takes that away. Not only is EU law higher than any elected government in a member state, the
European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, is made up of 27 un-elected Commissioners.

It is an affront to national sovereignty and democaracy.

Im all for it for certain projects eg Euro fighter, Large Hadron Collider and European Space Agency. It should be a mechanism for collaboration not government. I can also see security and trade being based on valuable European partnerships. There need to be institutions that cover these areas but we have to be careful how big they become.

I talk to many European advocats (EU Ambassadors etc) and they see a future of complete integration and the member states being reduced to near those of the USA. I cannot share that vision of the future.

You cannot expect a form of government to work where each member is still fighting for its own individual interests and it is impossible set central policies to suit all members. Countries will still put their own needs (as they should) ahead of the collective good. It just doesnt work and is a series of horse-trading and negotiations to get the simplest
things done. Also add in the fact that certain governments choose to ignore rules and others implement them and the whole thing is a messy mess.

There is only 1 way for the EU to run properly and be less bloated and expensive and more relevant. That is the complete subjigation of the state to the EU institution. As I said, there are many that think this is the way we have to go. I think it is a terrible idea and against the normal way people think.

29-05-2009, 04:23 AM

andmark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jungle Jumbo

My first chance to vote, and yeah, could be an absolute mess because of the expenses scam. The BNP look like they could win a seat in the North West and UKIP are expected to go well.

As has just been pointed out on Question Time, there isn't enough coverage of European politics in the press. We get stories about straight bananas and MEPs' expenses, but nothing of the actual legislation - even in the Guardian I can recall reading very little over the last year. How are we ever going to make an objective decision about Europe without any reasonably objective and constructive coverage?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixFire

Yeah I could see the BNP doing very well out of this, which is pretty worrying considering they are a bunch of nutters led by the biggest nutter going.